General Office Safety
Most might consider safe office activities, such as using a computer, preparing and filing
paperwork, or just walking about the office or building, can and have resulted in accidents.
Some Common Causes of Accidents:
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Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards
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Filing Cabinet Hazards
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Poor Housekeeping
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Horseplay
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Cutting and Puncture Hazards
SLIP, TRIP, and FALL HAZARDS
Outdoor Walkways and Parking Areas
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Trips on uneven walking surfaces
Slips and falls on wet surfaces
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Trips on rugs and carpets that don’t lay flat
Trips on extension cords running across walkways
Trips due to poor housekeeping (clutter left on the floor)
Trips over filing cabinet draws left open
Falls from improper use of office chairs
Not looking before sitting
Chair being use as a ladder
Indoor Hazards
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Filing Cabinet Hazards
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Contact with open drawers or sharp corners
Cabinets placed within walkways and doorways block exits
Pinched fingers when closing drawers
Top heavy cabinets can tip over
Poor Housekeeping
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Office clutter can cause accidents
Horseplay
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Joking around, such as running, throwing things, etc., can lead to accidents
Prevention
• Locate cabinets out of walking areas and doorways
• Place heavier items in bottom drawers; distribute files equally from top to bottom
• Keep filing cabinets out of walkways and away from doors
• Never walk away leaving file drawers open
• Watch the drawer as you close it (pay attention to where your fingers are)
• Keep a tidy office - look professional and avoid accidents
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Cutting and Puncture Hazards
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Knives and Box Cutters
Paper Cutters
Cutting Shears
Broken Glass
Disposed Blades
Prevention
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Use sharp blades (dull blades force you to use more pressure to cut, often causing
accidents)
Never place hand/fingers near cutting blade
Never pick up broken glass with bare hands. Wear leather gloves and place shards inside
a rigid box or container before placing in the trash. Use the same precautions when
disposing of used cutting blades
Always cut away from you; never direct the cutting blade towards you
To avoid injury, be aware of hand placement relative to the position and anticipated
movement of the cutting tool
Office duties may require risky movements
that often result in back or other injuries.
These movements can include:
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Twisting at the Waist When Lifting
Lifting or Moving Heavy Items
Bending Over
Reaching Overhead or Outward While Lifting
Preventing Lifting Injuries
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Use proper lifting techniques
— Think about the task at hand
— Balanced stance with feet placed shoulder-width apart
— Squat down (bend your knees) and hug the load close
— Grasp firmly with entire hand. Use palms and not just fingers
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— Lift Gradually, using legs, abdomen, buttock muscles
— Lower the load slowly, don’t jerk
— Once standing and carrying the load, never twist at the torso.
Instead, shuffle your feet to the direction desired.
Tips to Help Avoid Injury
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Never carry loads which obscure your clear view ahead
Always maintain sight of where you are stepping
Do not lift when your grip is awkward or unsecure
Ensure your footing is stable
Never lift heavy loads above the shoulders
Avoid bending by arranging work station at waist level
Best lifting/carrying zone: between shoulders and waist
Limit weight lifted to what you can only carry comfortably
Material Handling Aids
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Use a push cart, hand-truck, or dolly for heavier loads
Always secure the load to prevent shifting during movement
Always push the load straight ahead; pulling the load results in
twisting at the torso which increases the risk of injury
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Personal Protective Equipment
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Wear leather gloves when handling materials with sharp edges
Wear safety glasses when removing banding around packages
Good Physical Conditioning
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Helps prevent strains, sprains, and other injuries
Situational Awareness
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Learn to recognize and anticipate risky activities
Take protective measures by utilizing this training
Ergonomics
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Ergonomics - fancy word for the science of arranging and adjusting the work
environment to fit the employees body.
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Occupational Risk Factors
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Repetition – task or series of motions performed over and over
Forceful Exertions - amount of physical effort required to complete task
Awkward Postures - reaching, twisting, bending, holding fixed positions
Contact Stress – localized pressure exerted against the skin by external
force
Signs and Symptoms include: pain, numbness, tingling, stiffness,
decreased range of motion
• Mitigation Factors
• Repetition: take adequate breaks from tasks that you complete over and
over again
• Forceful Exertions: Minimize force during tasks using as light of a touch
as possible
• Awkward Postures: locate phones and computers so they are easy
viewed and used and no twisting is required for access.
• Contact Stress: if you find you are leaning or resting body parts on hard
surfaces change configurations of you equipment, phone or chair height
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SUBMITTED BY:
HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER
NOTED BY:
ADMIN MANAGER
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